Avoiding a Demand & Supply Mismatch: What do buyers really expect from the voluntary carbon market?

With the Paris Agreement’s start of implementation, the voluntary carbon market (VCM) has been put in limbo. This new context, which requires all countries to communicate mitigation targets through their NDCs, involves the risk of double claiming of emission reductions. It therefore requires rethinking of the VCM’s modus operandi. While discussions on the future role of the VCM are ongoing and different models are being discussed, the VCM has not yet found a way to align itself with the Paris Agreement.

In order to contribute to overcoming this discursive stalemate, this workshop focuses on the demand side of the VCM to shed some light on private companies’ and other potential buyers’ needs and expectations. Preliminary findings from ongoing research that explores companies’ positions will be presented, while representatives from private companies that have adopted science-based targets will outline the envisaged role for the VCM as part of their mitigation strategies.